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                                          ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 3627

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Warnke, Wojahn, Goltz, Metcalf and Bender

Read first time 2/6/85 and referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor.

AN ACT Relating to benefit qualifications for individuals with marginal labor force attachment; adding a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) Prior to December 31, 1986, the Commissioner may suspend the provisions of RCW 50.20.015(2) if the Commissioner determines that a reasonable application of that section may be precluded for an economically distressed occupation, defined as an occupation in an industry for which the thirteen-week insured unemployment rate equals or exceeds one hundred percent of the average of such rate for the corresponding thirteen-week period in each of the preceding five calendar years, or an occupation where governmental action has precluded the normal activities in such occupation.  The Commissioner shall develop rules and regulations describing the work search policy of the department for all claimants identified by this section.  Factors to be considered in developing the policy shall include occupation of the claimant, employment conditions within the industry, labor market demand, length and frequency of unemployment of the claimant, and the potential for return to work at his or her previous employment.  Claimant work search activities shall be conducted in accordance with the policy developed pursuant to the requirements of this section.

(2) The Commissioner shall submit a report to the Commerce and Labor Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives which describes those industries identified in subsection (1) of this section to be distressed industries and for which RCW 50.20.015(2) is suspended.  The report shall be filed within one week of the date that the suspension is made.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1985.